Our Daily Bread Christmas: Gift Of Grace / Day 5

Our Daily Bread Christmas: Gift Of Grace

Day 5 of 10 Christmas Welcome. In Pampanga Province in Luzon, Philippines, you’ll find San Fernando. The historic city hosts the Giant Lantern Festival featuring the quintessential Filipino Christmas tradition—paróls. With simple bamboo, colored paper, and candles, gifted artists create breathtaking star-shaped lanterns to celebrate the birth of Christ. Filipinos around the world have taken this Christmas tradition with them into suburban neighborhoods, main street businesses, and high-rise condos. You’ll even find paróls flickering in the humblest stilt houses in the most remote barangays (villages) in the Philippines. The settings differ dramatically, but the Christmas joy remains the same. Long ago on a rural hillside, shepherds “staying in the fields” received a startling appearance. “Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased’ ” (Luke 2:13–14). The paról signifies the star of Bethlehem that pointed gift-bearing wise men to the Light of the world. The wealthy magi and the homeless shepherds were equally welcome. As the prophet had foretold, “For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine” (Isa. 9:2). This Light is for everyone. —Tim Gustafson The light Christ brings will illuminate even our darkest day. Luke 2:13-20 Luke 2:13-20 NKJV 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: 14 “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” 15 So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. 17 Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. 18 And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.